Fence.



No. 727.245. PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

- I. N. WILLIAMS.

FENCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..13, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

tlnrrs STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,24=5,dated May 5, 1903. Application fi1edMarcl1l3, 1902. Serial No. 98,059. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC N. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Foltz, in the county of Jefferson and State of Indic ana, have invented a new and useful Fence,

of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to fences,and particularly that class comprising line-wires that are connected at suitable intervals by upright stays.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and secure lock for fastening the stays to theline-wires, and one of the important features thereof resides in the provision of a positive interlocking engagement between the stay and the look, so that the latter is positively held against movement on the former as distinguished from a frictional engagement, in which case the lock is often displaced.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, and the construction and advantages thereof are described in the following speci- 5 fication.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the meeting portions of a line-wire and stay, showing the same secured together by the improved lock. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the lock-body detached, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stay.

Similar numerals of reference designate drawings.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the line-wire is designated 10 and the upright stay 11, said stay being arranged in intersecting relation to the line-wire and having a transverse notch or socket 12 located in one of its side faces.

The lock comprises a substantially U-, shaped body portion 13, having spaced legs 14,that embrace the stay, as shown, these legs having alined notches 15, that extend diagonally in from their side edges toward the ends and are arranged to receive-the line-wire 10. A key 16 in the form of a wedge is inserted between the stay and line-wire and between the spaced legs, this key therefore forcing the line-wire into the outer ends of the diagocorresponding parts in all the figures of thenally-disposed notches. The legs, therefore, are practically in the form of hooks, the ends or bills 17 of which are inwardly turned and engage the under 'side of the line-wire to prevent the same from dropping out of the notches. Thebody 13, furthermore, is provided with an inwardlyie ttending projection that engages in the notch 12 of the stay-wire, this projection being preferably formed by bending the corner 18 of one leg so that it will engage in the notch, as shown in Fig. 3. This provides a positiveinterlocking engagement between the body and the stay-wire and will absolutely-prevent the movement of the former upon the latter, when the body is locked in place. The notches in the stay can be formed in any manner desired, though they are preferably made by rolling the stays when they are in heated condition, as many notches of course being provided as there are horizontal or line wires to be secured.

The advantages for this construction may be summed up as follows: In the first place, the body of the lock can be readily applied and fastened in place after the wires are in position, and said;wires can be securely locked against disengagement from the body. It might readily occur when lateral strain is applied to the line-wire -as, for instance, bya

person climbing over a fencethat the body,

if it only had a frictional engagement with the stay, would be moved downwardly upon the same, thus throwing the line out of proper 'position and perhaps loosening the wedge.

With the projection 18 fitting in the notch, as in the present structure, this movement cannot of course occur. The particular location of the notch at one side of the stay is also advantageous, its use in front being precluded, as the wedge passes between the line and stay wires and covers the front face of the latter contiguous to said line-wire. By having it at the side the lock-body can be first applied and the Wedge afterward driven in. The body, however, cannot slip during the latter operation, as it is already locked to the stay. The greatest abnornialfstrains brought to bear on the stay-wires are of course lateral. Therefore it will be observed that by placing the notches at the side, as sho-wn,.the fullthickness of the stay is retained inthe prop'erdirection to withstand said lateral strains, while at proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fence, the combination with a stay, of a line-wire crossing one face of the stay, one of the other faces of said stay having a socket, and a lock engaging the line-wire and stay, a portion of said lock resting against the face of the stay having the socket and being provided with a projection on'its' inner face that engages in said socket,said lock being supportable on the stay before the attachment of the line-wire thereto.

2. In a fence, the combination with a stay, of a line-wire crossing one face of the stay, one of the other faces of said stay having a notch, and a lock embracing the stay and engaging the line-wire, said embracing portion covering the notch and having an inwardlyextending projection that engages therein, said lock being supportable on the stay before the application of the line-wire.

3. In a fence, the combination with an upright stay-wire, of a line-wire crossing one face of the stay-wire, one of the other faces of said stay-Wire having a socket, and alock comprising a substantially U-shaped 'body that embraces the stay-wire and has spaced legs provided with notches in which the linewire is seated, the portion of one leg on the inner side of the notch being inturned and engaging in the socket of the stay, said lock being supportable on the stay before the attachment of the line-Wire.

4. In a fence, the combination with an upright stay, of a line-wire located across one face of the stay, said stay having a socketin one of its other faces, and a lock comprising asubstantially U-shaped body that surrounds the stay and covers the socket, the covering portion being bent inwardly and engagingin the socket, said body having a pair of spaced locks in the form of hooks that detachably engage over the line-wire, and a wedge-key inserted between the legs ofthe body and the stay and line wires, said lock being supportable on the stay-wire and engaged in the socket thereof before the attachment of the line-wire.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ISAAC N. XVILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD S. ROBERTS, J. W. DENNY. 

